Structure of an anti-shock device

ABSTRACT

An improvement in the structure of an anti-shock device utilized for buildings, important structures and bridge structures that is comprised of a base, a carrier, a slide block, and a plurality of springs. A slip concavity of a sunken round curved recess is respectively formed in the base top surface and in the carrier bottom surface, and an upper slide block member and a lower slide block member are situated between the two slip concavities. One contact surface between the two slide block members and slip concavities is of a curved contour and the other surfaces are indented seating recesses. A spheroid coupling bearing is nested between the two seating recesses and the upper and lower slide block members are held together by the springs. As so assembled, the anti-shock device base is fastened under the columns of a building structure such that the building achieves the objectives of exceptional shock eliminating capability and greater building structure safety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention herein relates to vibration eliminators, and inparticular to an improved structure of an anti-shock device utilized inbuildings, residences, important structures, and bridges. The inventionherein features a unique anti-shock device structure having a doubleaction sliding and swiveling mechanism that increases shock eliminationcapacity to effectively and economically ensure building structuresafety.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Based on mechanical characteristics, conventional anti-shockdevices are typically of two categories: spring-type and sliding-type.Manufacturers have recently developed a friction single-sway anti-shockdevice, a type of anti-shock device that combines the characteristics ofboth the spring-type and the sliding-type anti-shock devices. Theearliest research in this field was a report presented in 1987 by V.Zagas, S. S. Low, and S. A. Mahin of the Earthquake Engineering ResearchCenter, University of California at Berkeley. Since the inventor of theinvention herein has conducted detailed research on such anti-shockdevices and published the results (C. S. Tsai, 1995; C. S. Tsai, 1997;and C. S. Tsai and L. J. Huang, 1998), the inventor is familiar withsuch anti-shock devices now available in the industry, the drawbacks ofwhich include the following:

[0005] 1. The structural design of current friction single-swayanti-shock devices is inappropriate because its components are assembledby vertical stacking such that conjointness of independent components isnot possible and, as such, when lifting (a phenomenon that readilyoccurs at the side columns of multi-story buildings) occurs during anearthquake, the components of the assembled anti-shock device separate,causing a loss of mechanical capability and resulting in the destructionof the building.

[0006] 2. When conventional friction single-sway anti-shock devices areutilized in fault zones, since movement is of high magnitude,utilization is problematic, and integrity may even be lost, endangeringthe safety of the building.

[0007] 3. Since conventional friction single-sway anti-shock devices arehighly expensive to fabricate, they are not economical.

[0008] In view of the shortcomings of the said conventional shockeliminator, a number of improvements were applied to the present duringa prolonged period of extensive research and testing which culminated inthe successful development of the invention herein.

[0009] To enable the examination committee a further understanding ofthe structural features of the present invention, the brief descriptionof the drawings below are followed by the detailed description of theinvention herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] This invention is related to shock eliminators, and in particularto an improved structure of an anti-shock device utilized in buildings,residences, important structures and bridges.

[0011] It is the primary object of the present invention to provide animprovement in the structure of an anti-shock device utilized inbuildings, residences, important structures and bridges which have adouble action sliding and swiveling mechanism that increases shockelimination capacity to effectively and economically ensure buildingstructure safety.

[0012] The foregoing object and summary provide only a briefintroduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these andother objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself,all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, thefollowing detailed description of the invention and the claims should beread in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout thespecification and drawings identical reference numerals refer toidentical or similar parts.

[0013] Many other advantages and features of the present invention willbecome manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to thedetailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which apreferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of thepresent invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 is an exploded drawing of the invention herein.

[0015]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention in assembled stateherein.

[0016]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional drawing of the invention herein.

[0017]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional drawing of the invention hereininstalled in a building structure.

[0018]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional drawing of the invention hereininstalled in a bridge structure.

[0019]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional drawing of a second structuralvariation of the invention herein.

[0020]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional drawing of a third structuralvariation of the invention herein.

[0021]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional drawing of a fourth structuralvariation of the invention herein.

[0022]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional drawing of a fifth structuralvariation of the invention herein.

[0023]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional drawing of a sixth structuralvariation of the invention herein.

[0024]FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional drawing of a seventh structuralvariation of the invention herein.

[0025]FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional drawing of an eighth structuralvariation of the invention herein.

[0026]FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional drawing of a ninth structuralvariation of the invention herein.

[0027]FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional drawing of a tenth structuralvariation of the invention herein.

[0028]FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional drawing of an eleventh structuralvariation of the invention herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0029] The following descriptions are of exemplary embodiments only, andare not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration ofthe invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides aconvenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of theinvention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made inthe function and arrangement of the elements described without departingfrom the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3, the invention herein iscomprised of a base 10, a carrier 20, a slide block 30, and a pluralityof springs 80; the base 10 and the carrier 20 can be square,rectangular, rhombic, circular, oval, or polygonal in shape; a slipconcavity 11 and 21 of a sunken round curved recess is respectivelyformed in the center of the base 10 top surface and in the center of thecarrier 20 bottom surface, and the slide block 30 is situated betweenthe two slip concavities 11 and 21; the said slide block 30 consists ofan upper slide block member 31, a lower slide block member 32, and aspheroid coupling bearing 33, with the rounded top surface of the upperslide block member 31 and the rounded bottom surface of the lower slideblock member 32 respectively placed into the slip concavities 21 and 11such that they are firmly postured against the slip concavities 21 and11 but capable of sliding; a hemispherical seating recess 311 and 321 isrespectively formed in the bottom surface of the upper slide blockmember 31 and in the top surface of the lower slide block member 32, andthe spherical coupling bearing 33 is nested between the two seatingrecesses 311 and 321; as so assembled, the anti-shock device base 10 isbolt- or pin-fastened onto the building foundation and the carrier 20 isfastened to the bottom of the building columns; the contoured design ofthe base 10 and carrier 20 slip concavities 11 and 21 provides for anaccumulated potential energy during the slide block 30 movement processthat enables the slide block 30 to efficiently return to the originalposition after excursion and, furthermore, the design of the slide block30 is such that the hemispherical seating recesses 311 and 321 of theupper and lower slide block members 31 and 32 are mated around thecoupling bearing 33, and the upper and lower slide block members 31 and32 are held together by the springs 80 to increase energy dissipationcapacity. The springs 80 can be a damping device to enhance energydissipation capacity.

[0031]FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 illustrate the invention herein when utilized ina building and a bridge structure; as indicated in FIG. 4, the carrier20 of the anti-shock device is fastened to the bottom of the column 41of a building 40 and the base 10 is fastened onto a basement 42 surfaceserving as a foundation; as indicated in FIG. 5, the carrier 20 of theanti-shock device is fastened to the bottom surface of the bridge 50girder 53 and the base 10 is fastened onto the top surface of thefoundation 52 pier 51; as such, the said installations achieve shockelimination capability

[0032] Referring to FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 10, FIG. 11,FIG. 12, FIG. 13, FIG. 14, and FIG. 15, the various structural componentvariations of the anti-shock device of the invention herein; asindicated in FIG. 6, the base 10 and the carrier 20 are of the sameshape, but the upper slide block member 31 and the lower slide blockmember 32 of the slide block 30 are hemispherical and the couplingbearing 33 is columnar, with a hemispherical seating recess 331 isformed in its top and the bottom that allows the hemispherical upper andlower slide block members 31 and 32 to be respectively placed into thetwo seating recesses 331 as well as the slip concavity 21 and 11respectively formed in the center of the carrier 20 bottom surface andin the center of the base 10 top surface such that they are firmlypostured against the slip concavities 21 and 11 but capable of sliding;as indicated in FIG. 7, the said slide block 30 only consists of anupper and lower slide block member 31 and 32, the upper slide blockmember 31 is hemispherical like the upper slide block member 31 in FIG.6, the lower slide block member 32 is columnar and has a hemisphericalseating recess 321 that couples with the upper slide block member 31 andits bottom surface is rounded to match the inwardly contoured surface ofthe slip concavity 11 but capable of sliding and is firmly posturedagainst the slip concavity 11. As indicated in FIG. 8, the slide block30 is designed such that a rubber, laminated rubber, lead rubber, highdamping, or spring coupling bearing 33 is disposed between the upper andlower slide block members 31 and 32; as indicated in FIG. 9, the slideblock 30 is designed as a single column having a rounded top and bottomsurface, with a lower and an upper support pad 70 and 60 of a rubber, alaminated rubber bearing, a lead-rubber bearing, a high-damping rubberbearing, or a spring composition respectively attached to the base 10bottom surface and the carrier 20 top surface; as indicated in FIG. 10,the upper and lower slide block members 31 and 32 are of a convergencedesign, but the coupling bearing 33 is a hemispherically ended columnconnected to the bottom portion of the upper slide block member 31 andthe coupling bearing 33 of the upper slide block member 31 is nested ina hemispherical seating recess 321 formed in the center of the lowerslide block member 32 top surface. As indicated in FIG. 11, the carrier20 is a flat plate and, furthermore, the upper slide block member 31 andthe carrier 20 are integrated into a single body, with the remainingstructure consisting of a lower slide block member 32, a couplingbearing 33, a base 10, and a plurality of springs 80, an assembly notunlike that shown in FIG. 1; as indicated in FIG. 12 and similar to FIG.3, the coupling bearing 33 is an ovoid solid, a lentil-shaped spheroid,or an egg-shaped spheroid, the seating recesses 311 and 321 are of apartially hemispherical contour that accommodates a portion of the ovoidsolid, a lentil-shaped spheroid or an egg-shaped spheroid surface; asindicated in FIG. 13 and similar to FIG. 6, the upper and lower slideblock members 31 and 32 are partially hemispherical, ovoid,lentil-shaped, or egg-shaped and the seating recesses 331 are partiallyhemispherical to accommodate a portion of the ovoid solid, alentil-shaped spheroid or an egg-shaped spheroid surface; as indicatedin FIG. 14 and similar to FIG. 7, the upper slide block member 31 ispartially hemispherical, ovoid, lentil-shaped or egg-shaped and theseating recess 321 is partially hemispherical to accommodate a portionof the ovoid solid, a lentil-shaped or an egg-shaped spheroid surface;as indicated in FIG. 15 and similar to FIG. 10, the coupling bearing 33is partially hemispherical, partially ovoid, partially lentil-shaped orpartially egg-shaped and the seating recess 321 is partiallyhemispherical to accommodate a portion of the ovoid solid, alentil-shaped spheroid or an egg-shaped spheroid surface. All of thesaid structural variations have similar shock elimination capability. Inthe said assembly approaches, the physical arrangement of the base 10,the carrier 20, and the slide block 30 is interchangeable and reversibleto achieve the same shock eliminating capability. The curvatures andsizes of the slip concavities 11 and 21 can be different. Furthermore,the surfaces of the slip concavities 11 and 21, the surfaces of theupper and lower slide block members 31 and 32, the surface of thecoupling bearing 33, and the surfaces of the seating recess 311, 321,and 331 are coated with a wear-resistant, lubricating material toincrease shock eliminating performance. The coated materials on the slipconcavities 11 and 21 can be different according to the distance fromthe center of the slip concavities 11 and 21.

[0033] Since the said structural design of the anti-shock device hereinimproves the original capability of such mechanisms and thus providesfor greater building structure safety and, furthermore, since itsstructure is straightforward, production as well as installation iseasier and production cost is lower, the invention herein is capable ofenhanced performance and, furthermore, is economically advantageous andan invention of improved utility, therefore, the invention herein meetspatenting requirements and is lawfully submitted as a new patentapplication.

[0034] It will be understood that each of the elements described above,or two or more together may also find a useful application in othertypes of methods differing from the type described above.

[0035] While certain novel features of this invention have been shownand described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is notintended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understoodthat various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in theforms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can bemade by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from thespirit of the present invention.

I claim:
 1. A structure of an anti-shock device comprised of a base, a carrier, a slide block, and a plurality of springs; a slip concavity of a sunken round curved recess is respectively formed in the center of the said base top surface and in the center of the said carrier bottom surface, and the said slide block is situated between the two said slip concavities; the said slide block consists of an upper slide block member, a lower slide block member, and a spheroid coupling bearing; a hemispherical seating recess is respectively formed in the bottom surface of the said upper slide block member and in the top surface of the said lower slide block member, and the said spheroid coupling bearing is nested between the two said seating recesses; the contact surfaces between the said upper and lower slide block members and the said slip concavities consist of round curved surfaces that match the curvature of the said slip cavities, and the said upper and lower slide block members are held together by the said springs; as so assembled, the said base of the anti-shock device is fastened onto the building foundation and the said carrier is fastened to the bottom section of the building columns to provide shock eliminating capability.
 2. The structure of an anti-shock device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said upper and lower slide block members of the said slide block are hemispherical and the said coupling bearing is columnar, with a hemispherical said seating recess is formed in its top and bottom for the placement of the said upper and lower slide block members, and the surfaces of the said upper and lower slide block members that contact the said slip concavities are round curved convexity.
 3. The structure of an anti-shock device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said slide block is composed of the said upper and lower slide block members, the said upper slide block member is hemispherical, while the said lower slide block member is columnar and has a hemispherical said seating recess that couples with the said upper slide block member, and the surfaces of the said upper and lower slide block members that contact the said slip concavities are round curved convexity.
 4. The structure of an anti-shock device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said coupling bearing is a rubber bearing, a laminated rubber bearing, a lead-rubber bearing, a high-damping rubber bearing or springs, disposed between the said upper and lower slide block members and the surfaces of the said upper and lower slide block members that contact the said slip concavities are round curved convexity.
 5. The structure of an anti-shock device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said base and the said carrier have respectively attached to their bottom surface and top surface a lower and an upper support pad of a rubber or a spring composition and the said slide block is a single column having a round curved top and bottom surface that matches the curvature of the said slip concavities.
 6. The structure of an anti-shock device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said slide block is composed of the said upper and lower slide block members, the said coupling bearing is a hemispherically ended column connected to the bottom portion of the said upper slide block member, the said coupling bearing is nested in a hemispherical said seating recess formed in the center of the said lower slide block member top surface, and the surfaces of the said upper and lower slide block members that contact the said slip concavities are round curved convexity.
 7. The structure of an anti-shock device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said springs can be a rubber bearing, a laminated rubber bearing, a lead-rubber bearing, a high-damping rubber bearing, or a damping device.
 8. The structure of an anti-shock device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said slip concavity in the top surface of the said base and the said slip concavity in bottom surface of the said carrier can be round curved recesses with different curvatures and different sizes.
 9. The structure of an anti-shock device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said carrier is a flat plate and the said upper slide block member is connected to the said carrier.
 10. The structure of an anti-shock device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said base, the said carrier, and the said slide block are of a physical arrangement that is interchangeable and reversible.
 11. The structure of an anti-shock device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said base and the said carrier can be square, rectangular, rhombic, circular, oval, or polygonal in shape.
 12. The structure of an anti-shock device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said upper and lower slide block members can be of a sectionally square, rectangular, rhombic, circular, star, or polygonal shape.
 13. The structure of an anti-shock device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said slip concavity surfaces are coated with a wear-resistant, lubricating material.
 14. The structure of an anti-shock device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said upper and lower slide block member surfaces are coated with a wear-resistant, lubricating material.
 15. The structure of an anti-shock device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said coupling bearing surfaces are coated with a wear-resistant, lubricating material.
 16. The structure of an anti-shock device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said seating recess surfaces are coated with a wear-resistant, lubricating material.
 17. The structure of an anti-shock device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the said upper and lower support pad can be a laminated rubber bearing, a viscoelastic body, a high-damping rubber bearing, or a lead-rubber bearing.
 18. The structure of an anti-shock device as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 wherein the indented area of the said seating recess in the bottom surface of the said upper slide block member and in the top surface of the said lower slide block member is the surface of a partially hemispherical, a partially ovoid, a partially lentil-shaped or a partially egg-shaped solid and the said coupling bearing is an ovoid solid, a lentil-shaped spheroid or an egg-shaped spheroid.
 19. The structure of an anti-shock device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said upper and lower slide block members of the said slide block are partially hemispherical, ovoid, lentil-shaped or egg-shaped and the surface of the seating recess is the surface of a partially hemispherical, a partially ovoid, a partially lentil-shaped or a partially egg-shaped solid.
 20. The structure of an anti-shock device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the said upper slide block member is partially hemispherical, ovoid, lentil-shaped or egg-shaped and the surface of the said seating recess is the surface of a partially hemispherical, a partially ovoid, a partially lentil-shaped or a partially egg-shaped solid.
 21. The structure of an anti-shock device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the said coupling bearing is partially hemispherical, partially ovoid, partially lentil-shaped or partially egg-shaped and the surface of said seating recess is the surface of a partially hemispherical, a partially ovoid, a partially lentil-shaped or a partially egg-shaped solid.
 22. The structure of an anti-shock device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the curvature of the said slip concavity can be different according to the distance from the center of the said slip concavity.
 23. The structure of an anti-shock device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the coated materials on the said slip concavity surfaces can be different according to the distance from the center of the said slip concavities. 